Analysis Of The Futile Pursuit Of Happiness

Improved Essays
Summary of The Futile Pursuit of Happiness

In Jon Gertner’s article, “The Futile Pursuit of Happiness”, the author studies the idea that humans wrongly predict their emotions towards certain future events. This is called affective forecasting and proves to be the center of the article. The theories of impact bias, adapting to happiness, and empathy gap relate to the idea of affective forecasting, and provide valuable insight and understanding on its effects on happiness. Daniel Gilbert, psychology professor at Harvard University, diligently researches the concept of impact bias: “ “impact” meaning the errors we make in estimating both the intensity and duration of our emotions and “bias” our tendency to err” (Gertner 445). Therefore,
…show more content…
The gap between the two states is called the empathy gap created by George Lowenstein, the economist of Carnegie Mellon. In the “hot” state our emotions are in state of “anxiety, courage, fear, drug craving, sexual excitations, and the like,” while the second state is known as the “cold” state of “rational calm” (Gertner 448). According to Lowenstein’s research, one cannot predetermine their actions or behaviors in “hot” states no matter the circumstance. The way humans think they will act in the “heat of the moment situations,” usually does not reveal their true actions and cannot be predicted in a “cold” state (Gertner 449). Once in the “hot” state, one does not think about the consequences of their actions; as a result, the “cold” state materializes the consequences at hand and happiness declines. A recurring example proves to be the activity of unprotected sex (Gertner 449). In Loewenstein’s experiment over the idea, it was evident that the subjects would not perform unprotected sex “in moments of cool calculations” (Gertner 449). Hence, by forecasting one’s happiness, only despair and confusion are the outcome when dealing with one’s

Related Documents

  • Decent Essays

    Summary of Adam Grant Adam Grant’s article, “Does Trying to Be Happy Make Us Unhappy,” discusses finding happiness. Grant’s thesis indicates that, trying to be happy will not make us happy. He evaluates an individual case by applying different happiness related theories. At the beginning, Adam Grant points out that searching out for happiness is not a correct way of persuading happiness.…

    • 377 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    It is well-justifiable and undeniable that within the race called homo sapiens, lays a concept called happiness which all try to meet. To achieve that common goal, humanity has gone through several lengths, both valiant approaches and those that are frowned upon. And although it is not inappropriate to join the endeavor for this euphoric feeling, the means of how an individual or a society may choose to attain it is important. There are both positive and negative effects in result of this search which one has to constantly be aware of. To be able to understand and take suitable actions is several folds harder than simply going for the raw objective of happiness.…

    • 1134 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    We have all heard the saying, “Money can’t buy happiness.” But if this is true, why do we devote our lives to the pursuit of wealth? Psychologists, philosophers, and countless others have proposed numerous theories for what factors actually lead to happiness, and whether or not material wealth generates happiness. For example, some believe happiness comes purely from one’s mindset, while others believe behaviors and actions bring about happiness, and some believe a significant portion of happiness is genetic. Nevertheless, experts and ordinary people alike continue to debate the question of how much material wealth contributes to happiness.…

    • 1762 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The two article titles, “Happiness is Other People” by Ruth Whippman (2017) published on The New York Times and “The Secret to Deeper Happiness Is Simpler Than You Might Think” by Ginny Graves (2017) published on Health.com discuss on how happiness is misapprehended and defines how one is able to achieve happiness. The main point that Whippman’s article (2017) wanted to bring across to the readers is that happiness lies does not lie within rather it is more on engaging in human interactions, whereas in Graves’ article (2017), it states that lasting happiness does not come from materialistic possessions but can be from the simplest means or actions in accordance to your own values. The two articles have brought their points across to the reader, however I feel that Ginny Graves’ articles are more persuasive as compared to Ruth Whippman’s articles in terms of credibility, being more relatable more readers she is able to reach and having more testimonials in supporting her argument . Ginny Graves and Ruth Whippman were both considered are veteran authors with writing experiences of 30 years (Graves, n.d.) and 7 years (Whippman, n.d.) respectively, however when it comes to the topic of “happiness” both authors lack the credibility when trying to persuade the readers since this topic requires a great understanding…

    • 757 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The book Stumbling on Happiness looks at how one’s imagination about the future and illusions of foresight cause misconception in what makes us happy, what tomorrow will bring and what we want in actuality. Daniel Gilbert is Harvard College Professor of Psychology at Harvard University, therefore is able to go into the in depth of human nature and accurately describe the human ability to imagine the future and the capacity to like it when it happens. Daniel Gilbert uses the latest scientific research in psychology , cognitive neuroscience, behavioral economics and philosophy to explain this phenomenon and tries to capture all aspects of human capabilities. The book is divided into six parts, Prospection, Subjectivity, Realism, Presentism, Rationalization and Corrigibility.…

    • 795 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Aristotle claimed that the concept of possessing good in life was necessary for happiness: “some are necessary conditions while others are naturally useful and cooperative as instruments.” (Nicomachean Ethics 1099b28-29). He further explains that “having friends seems to be the greatest external good” (Nicomachean Ethics 9.9.1169b10-11). Friendship can be used to achieve this external good for it is deemed a virtuous action which is considered necessary for achieving the desired happiness that Aristotle speaks of throughout the all the books of the Nicomachean Ethics because “The solitary person’s life is hard, since it is not easy for him to be continually active all by himself; but in relation to others and in their company it is easier”…

    • 659 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    According to their essay,some factors might affect the determination of happiness like comparing mind, inner content and inner world, which will be discussed more in this essay . Spending your mental energy on comparing yourself to others can be motivated in some circumstances, but it…

    • 1160 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Fall break is a time for us as students to relieve ourselves from the stresses of school. It’s a time to be with family and friends and to enjoy delicious food. It can also be a time to reflect on how psychology is in everything we do. Our motives, actions, and feelings are all brought back to psychology. Over this break, I made note of a few instances that could easily relate to the science.…

    • 850 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Lab 13: The Surprising Science of Happiness 1. In the Tedtalk given by Dan Gilbert, he talks about lottery winners and paraplegics and asks the audience which one we would prefer? He did this because most people would just assume that the lottery winners would naturally be happier. His point, however, was that despite what most would think, lottery winners were not much happier than their control group and both the lottery winners and control group were only slightly happier than paraplegics.…

    • 886 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the article “Understanding Faulty thinking tackle climate change” author George Marshall explains the psychological reasons why we ignore climate change. The article presents many biases we employ which affect how important we deem an issue and prejudices on why we choose to ignore it. After throughly analyzing the article based on its content and use off logos, ethos, and pathos I have concluded that every UTA alumni would be able to make their own connection with any of the statements provide in the article. Thus I would happily recommend the article be published in UTA’s newspaper The Shorthorn. George selectively includes some logos in an effort to persuade and appeal to his readers.…

    • 852 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Stanley Schachter was an American psychologist who came from Queens, New York. He was born in the year of 1922 and died June 7, 1997 at age 75. Stanley shared his home with his former wife named Sophia Duckworth and their only son named Elijah. During the years before his family, Stanley went to college for his bachelors and masters at Yale University in the years of 1942-1944. Then transferred to the University of Michigan in the year of 1949 for his PhD, all for social psychology.…

    • 985 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Inspired by a true story, the film The Pursuit of Happiness is about a hardworking salesman and father named Chris Gardner. Throughout the whole movie, you see his journey from being a broke and homeless salesman to a millionaire stockbroker. In the beginning of the movie, his wife Linda, and their son, Christopher, are both introduced and we see that they lived in San Francisco, California. Chris’s occupation was attempting to sell an expensive, portable Osteo National bone-density scanners which he spent all his family’s savings on. From the start, his wife wasn’t too happy about this investment.…

    • 1783 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Pursuit Of Happyness

    • 816 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Pursuit of Happyness is a film based on a real story of Christopher Gardner, a renowned author, philanthropist, stockbroker, investor, entrepreneur, and a motivational speaker. While trying to highlight the most admired aspects of the life of Gardner, portrayed by Will Smith, the film also depicts the underside of Christopher Gardner. The film took place in San Francisco, California in the year 2006. Christopher Gardner is married to Linda, who for most of the film seems to have an unstable emotion state. The couple one child named Christopher.…

    • 816 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The Pursuit Of Happiness

    • 1843 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Happiness is something that has plagued Mankind for as long as they first felt it. This feeling off complete Euphoria is what humans strive to feel with every action we take. Love, Laughter, Pride, and etc all play a part in the happiness that we all strive to achieve. Humans try to make happiness out of anything they find they listen to music, watch funny videos, maybe even do drugs. People are addicted to happiness cause it is one hell of a drug and it also is a part of everything we feel good about.…

    • 1843 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Happiness What is happiness? There can be many different definitions of the word happiness. My definition of happiness is when you have a good emotion towards something. To be happy you need to work hard to get to where you want to be.…

    • 1089 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays

Related Topics